Introduction: Engineered for Sour Service & High-Pressure Integrity
When operating in aggressive sour gas environments, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical processing units where hydrogen sulfide (H2S) induces severe material degradation, selecting the correct Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) resistant steel is vital for structural safety and regulatory compliance. As leading ASTM 516 Grade 65 HIC Plate Distributors, Chhajed Steel Limited supplies and distributes high-integrity pressure vessel steel plates specifically engineered to resist blistering and step-wise cracking. Certified to international standards including ASTM A516 / A516M and tested rigorously under NACE TM0284 (with strict crack length ratio CLR, crack thickness ratio CTR, and crack sensitivity ratio CSR limits), our HIC-tested Grade 65 plates combine dependable tensile strength with superior metallurgical cleanliness.
For pressure vessel fabricators, oil and gas engineering contractors, and project managers seeking certified sour-service steel plates, sourcing from dependable distributors guarantees compliance with NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 guidelines, exceptional weldability, low sulfur content, and long-term durability under hazardous operating conditions.
What is ASTM A516 Grade 65 HIC Plate?
ASTM A516 Grade 65 is a standard specification carbon steel plate primarily designed for service in welded pressure vessels where notch toughness is important. When designated as HIC (Hydrogen Induced Cracking) Resistant, the steel undergoes specialized secondary metallurgy—including vacuum degassing, desulfurization, and calcium treatment—to minimize inclusion content (especially manganese sulfides) and control microstructural segregation. This prevents hydrogen atoms from recombining into molecular hydrogen gas at inclusion sites, which normally causes internal blistering and catastrophic cracking in sour environments.
Sour Service Compliance: Specially manufactured and tested to withstand hydrogen-induced cracking in wet H2S containing environments.
Controlled Chemistry: Ultra-low sulfur (typically ≤0.002%) and phosphorus levels to maximize internal cleanliness and minimize inclusion defects.
Optimized Tensile Strength: Offers a balanced minimum tensile strength of 450 MPa (65 ksi), making it ideal for medium-to-high pressure containment vessels.
HIC Tested & Certified: Evaluated strictly via NACE TM0284 evaluation standards in standard test solutions (like NACE Solution A) to ensure low crack susceptibility ratios.
Distributor Size Range & Technical Parameters
Available Plate Dimensions in Stock
Thickness Range: 6 mm to 150 mm (heavy gauges available for thick-walled pressure vessels)
Width Range: 1,500 mm to 3,000 mm
Length Range: Up to 12,000 mm (or custom cut-to-size profiles, plasma cut, and flame-cut parts)
Condition: Normalized, Thermomechanical Control Process (TMCP), or Quenched & Tempered as specified.
Surface Finish: Shot-blasted and primed or mill finish with protective anti-corrosion coating.
Controlled Chemical Composition
Elemental Limits (ASTM A516 Gr. 65 HIC Modified)
Carbon (C max): 0.18%
Manganese (Mn): 0.85 – 1.20%
Silicon (Si): 0.15 – 0.40%
Sulfur (S max): ≤0.002% (Ultra-low for HIC resistance)
Phosphorus (P max): ≤0.015%
Copper (Cu max): 0.25%
Nickel (Ni max): 0.25%
Chromium (Cr max): 0.25%
Molybdenum (Mo max): 0.08%
Calcium (Ca treated): Controlled for inclusion shape modification
Mechanical Properties
Mandatory HIC Test Acceptance Criteria (NACE TM0284)
To qualify as true HIC-resistant plates, test coupons extracted from the steel plates must meet rigorous ultrasonic and metallographic evaluation standards:
CLR (Crack Length Ratio): ≤5% (maximum)
CTR (Crack Thickness Ratio): ≤1.5% (maximum)
CSR (Crack Sensitivity Ratio): ≤0.5% (maximum)
Major Industrial Applications
Oil & Gas Extraction & Refining: Hydrotreaters, amine regenerators, fractionators, and sour crude oil storage tanks.
Petrochemical Processing: Pressure vessels operating under wet H2S or corrosive sour gas conditions.
Chemical & Fertilizer Plants: Synthesis gas reactors, high-pressure separators, and heat exchanger shells.
Pipeline Infrastructure: Heavy-wall scrubbers, surge drums, and pipeline components subject to hydrogen embrittlement risks.
Global Distribution, Packaging & Quality Assurance
As trusted distributors and suppliers based in India, Chhajed Steel Limited distributes these specialized ASTM A516 Grade 65 HIC plates domestically and internationally to major energy hubs across the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.
Export-Ready Packaging: Securely strapped on robust wooden pallets, wrapped in waterproof plastic film, and edge-protected to prevent transit corrosion and physical damage.
Complete Documentation & Traceability: Supplied with comprehensive Mill Test Certificates (MTC) conforming to EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2, NACE TM0284 HIC test reports, UT inspection reports (per ASTM A435 / A578), and third-party inspection (TPI) verification by agencies like Lloyds Register, DNV, or SGS.